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Funding boost for low carbon transport plans

Bidders hoping to share a £8 million European Regional Development fund (ERDF) have been given a boost thanks to Transport Scotland.

Thirty nine projects will benefit from support of up to £10k each, enabling them to develop ideas in preparation for launch of the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport (LCTT) challenge fund later this year.

Many of the bids aim to deliver local regeneration and economic development aims, as well as complementing earlier community engagement exercises where local travel and transport options were identified as a key priority.

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said

“We need to maximise this ERDF investment to support our low carbon travel and transport aspirations by establishing a strong network of these across Scotland by December 2018.

“The Pre-Application Support Fund received a high-level of interest and I’m delighted that funding is being offered to a wide range of public sector bodies, as well as a number of community and third sector organisations to help them develop their ideas.

“The quality of the applications received is pleasing and I hope that many of these will be developed to form strong bids for the full ERDF challenge fund, once this launches later in the year.”

Amongst the successful bids are proposals for a low carbon transport hub to help tackle fuel poverty issues for those living and working in island and rural locations. ‘Park and Choose’ facilities is another example which will provide communities, commuters, residents and visitors with increased opportunities for active and low carbon travel, through improved connectivity and transport links.

Several bids concentrate on changing attitudes, helping local communities to become increasingly aware of the advantages of multi-modal travel with less reliance on single occupancy car journeys. These proposals focus on realising the health benefits of increased walking, cycling and shifting between these and available shared transport options.

The ERDF LCTT will be launched in November/ December to support the establishment of active travel and low carbon transport ‘hubs’ across Scotland by December 2018.

Transport Scotland has awarded a total sum of £383,399 to 39 projects – please see the separate attachment for breakdown

The Pre-Application Support Fund (PASF) offered funding of up to £10,000 to help public, community and third sector organisations develop ideas for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Low Carbon Travel and Transport (LCTT) Challenge Fund.

Transport Scotland received a total of sixty eight applications for the Pre-Application Support Fund (PASF) from public, community and third sector organisations.